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The extremely neutron-deficient isotope 179Au has been studied by a combination of in-beam γ-ray and isomeric-decay spectroscopy. For in-beam spectroscopy, the recoil-isomer tagging technique was employed, using the known 3/2−, T1/2=328 ns isomer. A new rotational band, associated with the unfavored signature band of the 1h9/2⊕2f7/2 proton-intruder configuration, was revealed. A previously unknown, high-spin isomeric state with an excitation energy of 1743(17) keV and T1/2=2.16(8)µs was discovered. Five decay paths were identified, some of them feeding previously unknown non-yrast excited states, associated with the 1i13/2 proton-intruder configuration. Calculations based on the particle-plus-triaxial-rotor model were performed to interpret the data. On the basis of these calculations, the new 1h9/2⊕2f7/2 rotational band is interpreted as due to triaxial deformation of the underlying configuration with β2≈0.26 and γ≈27∘. Observed non-yrast states of the positive-parity 1i13/2 intruder configuration are interpreted as due to triaxial deformation with β2≈0.26 and γ≈20∘. peerReviewed

13 pags., 5 figs., 2 tabs., The structure of Po208 populated through the EC/β+ decay of At208 is investigated using γ-ray spectroscopy at the ISOLDE Decay Station. The presented level scheme contains 27 new excited states and 43 new transitions, as well as a further 50 previously observed γ rays which have been (re)assigned a position. The level scheme is compared to shell model calculations. Through this analysis approximately half of the β-decay strength of At208 is found to proceed via allowed decay and half via first-forbidden decay. The first-forbidden transitions predominantly populate core excited states at high excitation energies, which is qualitatively understood using shell model considerations. This mass region provides an excellent testing ground for the competition between allowed and first-forbidden β-decay calculations, important for the detailed understanding of the nucleosynthesis of heavy elements., The research leading to these results received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 654002. Support from the European Union Seventh Framework through ENSAR Contract No. 262010, as well as the Science and Technology Facilities Council (U.K.) through Grants No. ST/P005314/1, No. ST/L005743/1, No. ST/J000051/1, No. ST/L005670/1, and No. ST/P004598/1, the German BMBF under Contract No. 05P18PKCIA and “Verbundprojekt 05P2018” as well as Spanish MINECO Grants No. FPA2015-65035- P and No. FPA2017-87568-P, FWO Vlaanderen (Belgium), GOA/2015/010 (BOF KU Leuven), the Excellence of Science Programme (EOS-FWO), the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme initiated by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BriX network P7/12), the Polish National Science Centre under Contracts No. UMO-2015/18/M/ST2/00523 and No. UMO-2019/33/N/ST2/03023, National Science Foundation (U.S.) Grant No. PHY1811855, and the Romanian IFA project CERN-RO/ISOLDE is acknowledged. P.H.R. acknowledges support from the U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy via the National Measurement Office

The β decay of 207Hg into the single-proton-hole nucleus 207Tl has been studied through γ-ray spectroscopy at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS) with the aim of identifying states resulting from coupling of the πs−11/2, πd−13/2, and πh−111/2 shell model orbitals to the collective octupole vibration. Twenty-two states were observed lying between 2.6 and 4.0 MeV, eleven of which were observed for the first time, and 78 new transitions were placed. Two octupole states (s1/2-coupled) are identified and three more states (d3/2-coupled) are tentatively assigned using spin-parity inferences, while further h11/2-coupled states may also have been observed for the first time. Comparisons are made with state-of-the-art large-scale shell model calculations and previous observations made in this region, and systematic underestimation of the energy of the octupole vibrational states is noted. We suggest that in order to resolve the difference in predicted energies for collective and noncollective t=1 states (t is the number of nucleons breaking the 208Pb core), the effect of t=2 mixing may be reduced for octupole-coupled states. The inclusion of mixing with t=0,2,3 excitations is necessary to replicate all t=1 state energies accurately.

11 pags., 10 figs., 5 tabs.-- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 4.0, The structure of Si34 was studied through γ spectroscopy separately in the β- decays of Mg34 and Al34 at the ISOLDE facility of CERN. Different configurations in Si34 were populated independently from the two recently identified β-decaying states in Al34 having spin-parity assignments Jπ=4- dominated by the normal configuration π(d5/2)-1 - ν(f7/2) and Jπ=1+ by the intruder configuration π(d5/2)-1 - ν(d3/2)-1(f7/2)2. The paper reports on spectroscopic properties of Si34 such as an extended level scheme, spin and parity assignments based on log(ft) values and γ-ray branching ratios, absolute β feeding intensities, and neutron emission probabilities. A total of 11 newly identified levels and 26 transitions were added to the previously known level scheme of Si34. Large scale shell-model calculations using the SDPF-U-MIX interaction, able to treat higher order intruder configurations, are compared with the new results and conclusions are drawn concerning the predictive power of SDPF-U-MIX, the N=20 shell gap, the level of mixing between normal and intruder configurations for the 01+, 02+, and 21+ states, and the absence of triaxial deformation in Si34., This work was partially supported by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CNCS-UEFISCDI project number PN-II-RU-TE- 2014-4-1455, by the Romanian IFA Grant CERN/ISOLDE, by Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Belgium), by GOA/2015/010 (BOF KU Leuven), and by the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme initiated by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BriX network P7/12). Support from the U.K. Science and Technology Facilities Council, the European Union Seventh Framework through ENSAR (Contract No. 262010), the MINECO (Spain) grants FPA2017-87568-P, FPA2015-64969-P, FPA2014-57196, FPA2015-65035-P, Programme “Centros de Excelencia Severo Ochoa” SEV-2016- 0597, the MEYS project SPIRAL2-CZ,EF16-013/0001679, the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund of Hungary via Project No. K128947, the European Regional Development Fund (Contract No. GINOP-2.3.3-15-2016- 00034), the German BMBF under contract 05P18PKCIA (ISOLDE), and “Verbundprojekt 05P2018” is also acknowledged. I.K. was supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary (NKFIH), Contract No. PD 124717.

10 pags., 8 figs., 1 tab.-- Open Access funded by Creative Commons Atribution Licence 4.0, Excited states in Sn133 were investigated through the ß decay of In133 at the ISOLDE facility. The ISOLDE Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) provided isomer-selective ionization for In133, allowing us to study separately, and in detail, the ß-decay branch of In133J¿=(9/2+) ground state and its J¿=(1/2-) isomer. Thanks to the large spin difference of the two ß-decaying states of In133, it is possible to investigate separately the lower and higher spin states in the daughter, Sn133, and thus to probe independently different single-particle and single-hole levels. We report here new ¿ transitions observed in the decay of In133, including those assigned to the deexcitation of the neutron-unbound states., We acknowledge the support of the ISOLDE Collaboration and technical teams. This work was supported in part by the Polish National Science Center under Contract No. UMO-2015/18/E/ST2/00217 and under Contract No. UMO-2015/18/M/ST2/00523, by the Spanish MINECO via FPA2015-65035-P project, by the Portuguese FCT via CERN/FIS-NUC/0004/2015 and CERN-FIS-PAR-0005-2017 projects. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 654002.

The new nuclides 165Pt and 170Hg were produced in the reactions 92Mo(78Kr,5n) and 96Ru(78Kr,4n) at bombarding energies of 418 MeV and 390 MeV, respectively. For 170Hg an α-particle energy of Eα=7590(30)keV and half-life of t1/2=0.08+0.40−0.04ms were deduced, while for 165Pt the corresponding values were 7272(14) keV and 0.26+0.26−0.09ms. Comparison of the reduced α-decay widths with systematics indicates that both α decays are unhindered. Although combining the measured α-decay Q values with extrapolated masses suggests that both new nuclides are unbound to two-proton emission by more than 1 MeV, their α-decay half-lives are too short for this decay mode to compete. Improved data were also obtained for 166,167Pt, produced via the 96Ru(78Kr,α4n) and 96Ru(78Kr,α3n) reactions at bombarding energies of 390 MeV and 418 MeV. peerReviewed

The new nuclides \(^{165}\mathrm{Pt}\) and \(^{170}\mathrm{Hg}\) were produced in the reactions \(^{92}\mathrm{Mo}(^{78}\mathrm{Kr},5n)\) and \(^{96}\mathrm{Ru}(^{78}\mathrm{Kr},4n)\) at bombarding energies of 418 MeV and 390 MeV, respectively. For \(^{170}\mathrm{Hg}\) an α-particle energy of \(E_{α} = 7590(30)\) keV and half-life of \(t_{1/2} = 0.08^{+0.40}_{−0.04}\)ms were deduced, while for \(^{165}\mathrm{Pt}\) the corresponding values were 7272(14) keV and \(0.26^{+0.26}_{−0.09}\)ms. Comparison of the reduced α-decay widths with systematics indicates that both α decays are unhindered. Although combining the measured α-decay Q values with extrapolated masses suggests that both new nuclides are unbound to two-proton emission by more than 1 MeV, their α-decay half-lives are too short for this decay mode to compete. Improved data were also obtained for \(^{166,167}\mathrm{Pt}\), produced via the \(^{96}\mathrm{Ru}(^{78}\mathrm{Kr},α4n)\) and \(^{96}\mathrm{Ru}(^{78}\mathrm{Kr},α3n)\) reactions at bombarding energies of 390 MeV and 418 MeV.

A multiparticle spin-trap isomeric state having a half-life of 179(4) ns and lying 2601 keV above the yrast 10 + state in 156 Lu has been discovered. The 156 Lu nuclei were produced by bombarding isotopically enriched 106 Cd targets with beams of 58 Ni ions, separated in flight using the gas-filled separator RITU and their decays were measured using the GREAT spectrometer. Analysis of the main decay path that populates yrast states observed previously suggests a spin-parity assignment of 19 − for the isomeric state, which is consistent with isomeric states identified in the N = 85 isotones. Comparison with other decay paths in 156 Lu indicates that the [ π h − 1 11 / 2 ⊗ ν h 9 / 2 ] 10 + state at the bottom of the yrast sequence is likely to be the α -decaying isomeric state, with the [ π h − 1 11 / 2 ⊗ ν f 7 / 2 ] 9 + state lying 62 keV above it. The relative ordering of the lowest-lying 9 + and 10 + states is inverted in 156 Lu compared with its odd-odd isotones. peerReviewed

Fine structure in the α decay of high-spin isomers in 155Lu(25/2−) and 156Hf (8+) has been studied for the first time using αγ -coincidence analysis. Three new α decays from 155Lu(25/2−) and two from 156Hf (8+) have been identified, populating seniority s > 1 states in the N = 82 nuclei 151Tm and 152Yb, respectively. The reduced hindrance factors of the α decays support the previous configuration assignments of the populated states. This is the first observation of states with excitation energy greater than 1.5 MeV being populated following α decay in nuclei outside of the 208Pb region. peerReviewed

The excited states of the proton emitter 151Lu were reinvestigated in a recoil-decay tagging experiment at the Accelerator Laboratory of the University of Jyväskylä (JYFL). The level scheme built on the ground state of 151Lu was updated with five new γ -ray transitions. Large-scale shell model calculations were carried out in the model space consisting of the neutron and proton orbitals 0g7/2, 1d5/2, 1d3/2, 2s1/2, and 0h11/2 with the optimized monopole interaction in order to interpret the experimental level scheme of 151Lu. It is found that the excitation energies of states above the 27/2− and 23/2+ isomeric levels in 151Lu can be sensitive to excitations from g7/2 and d5/2 to single-particle orbitals above N = Z = 64. peerReviewed

Lifetimes of excited states in the yrast band of the neutron-deficient nuclide 166W have been measured utilizing the DPUNS plunger device at the target position of the JUROGAM II γ -ray spectrometer in conjunction with the RITU gas-filled separator and the GREAT focal-plane spectrometer. Excited states in 166W were populated in the 92Mo(78Kr,4p) reaction at a bombarding energy of 380 MeV. The measurements reveal a low value for the ratio of reduced transitions probabilities for the lowest-lying transitions B(E2; 4+ → 2+)/B(E2; 2+ → 0+) = 0.33(5), compared with the expected ratio for an axially deformed rotor (B4/2 = 1.43). peerReviewed

International audience; Excited states in the proton-unbound nuclide $^{177}$Au were populated in the $^92}$Mo($^{88}$Sr, p2n) reaction and identified using the Jurogam-II and GREAT spectrometers in conjunction with the RITU gas-filled separator at the University of Jyväskylä Accelerator Laboratory. A strongly coupled band and its decay path to the 11/2−α-decaying isomer have been identified using recoil-decay tagging. Comparisons with cranked Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) calculations based on Skyrme energy functionals suggest that the band has a prolate deformation and is based upon coupling the odd 1h11/2 proton hole to the excited 02+ configuration in the $^{178}$Hg core. Although these configurations might be expected to follow the parabolic trend of core Hg(02+) states as a function of neutron number, the electromagnetic decay paths from the strongly coupled band in $^{177}$Au are markedly different from those observed in the heavier isotopes above the midshell. This indicates that a significant change in the structure of the underlying A+1Hg core occurs below the neutron midshell.

The level scheme of the neutron-deficient nuclide 168Os has been extended and mean lifetimes of excited states have been measured by the recoil distance Doppler-shift method using the JUROGAM γ -ray spectrometer in conjunction with the IKP Koln plunger device. The ¨ 168Os γ rays were measured in delayed coincidence with recoiling fusion-evaporation residues detected at the focal plane of the RITU gas-filled separator. The ratio of reduced transition probabilities B(E2; 4+ 1 → 2+ 1 )/B(E2; 2+ 1 → 0+ 1 ) is measured to be 0.34(18), which is very unusual for collective band structures and cannot be reproduced by interacting boson model (IBM-2) calculations based on the SkM* energy-density functional. peerReviewed

Excited states in the neutron-deficient odd-odd proton-unbound nuclide 158Ta have been investigated in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, 166Ir nuclei were produced in the reactions of 380 MeV 78Kr ions with an isotopically enriched 92Mo target. The α-decay chain of the 9+ state in 166Ir was analyzed. Fine structure in the α decay of the 9+ state in 162Re established a 66 keV difference in excitation energy between the lowest-lying 9+ and 10+ states in 158Ta. Higher-lying states in 158Ta were populated in the reactions of 255 MeV 58Ni ions with an isotopically enriched 102Pd target. Gamma-ray decay paths that populate, depopulate, and bypass a 19− isomeric state have been identified. The general features of the deduced level scheme are discussed and the prospects for observing proton emission branches from excited states are considered. peerReviewed

Lifetimes of excited states in the neutron-deficient odd-odd nucleus 166Re have been measured for the first time using the recoil distance Doppler-shift method. The measured lifetime for the (8−) state; τ = 480 (80) ps, enabled an assessment of the multipolarities of the γ rays depopulating this state. Information on electromagnetic transition strengths were deduced for the γ -ray transitions from the (9−), (10−), and (11−) states, and in the case of the (10−) and (11−) states limits on the B(M1) and B(E2) strengths were estimated. The results are compared with total Routhian surface predictions and semiclassical calculations. Tilted-axis cranking calculations based on a relativistic mean-field approach (TAC-RMF) have also been performed in order to test the possibility of magnetic rotation in the 166Re nucleus. While the TAC-RMF calculations predict a quadrupole-deformed nuclear shape with similar β2 deformation as obtained by using the TRS model, it was found that the experimental electromagnetic transition rates are in better agreement with a collective-rotational description. peerReviewed

Excited states in the neutron-deficient nuclei 163 75 Re88 and 165 75 Re90 were populated in the 106Cd(60Ni, p2nγ ) and 92Mo(78Kr, 3p2nγ ) fusion-evaporation reactions at bombarding energies of 270 and 380 MeV, respectively. γ rays were detected at the target position using the JUROGAM spectrometer while recoiling ions were separated in-flight by the RITU gas-filled recoil separator and implanted in the GREAT spectrometer. The energy level schemes for 163Re and 165Re were identified using recoil-decay correlation techniques. At low spin, the yrast bands of these isotopes consist of signature partner bands based on a single πh11/2 quasiproton configuration. The bands display large energy splitting consistent with the soft triaxial shape typical of transitional nuclei above N = 82. The configurations of the excited states are proposed within the framework of the cranked shell model. peerReviewed

Excited states in the highly neutron-deficient nucleus 162W have been investigated via the 92Mo(78Kr, 2α) 162W reaction. Prompt γ rays were detected by the JUROGAM II high-purity germanium detector array and the recoiling fusion-evaporation products were separated by the recoil ion transport unit (RITU) gas-filled recoil separator and identified with the gamma recoil electron alpha tagging (GREAT) spectrometer at the focal plane of RITU. γ rays from 162W were identified uniquely using mother-daughter and mother-daughter-granddaughter α-decay correlations. The observation of a rotational-like ground-state band is interpreted within the framework of total Routhian surface (TRS) calculations, which suggest an axially symmetric ground-state shape with a γ -soft minimum at β2 ≈ 0.15. Quasiparticle alignment effects are discussed based on cranked shell model calculations. New measurements of the 162W ground-state α-decay energy and half-life were also performed. The observed α-decay energy agrees with previous measurements. The half-life of 162W was determined to be t1/2 = 990(30) ms. This value deviates significantly from the currently adopted value of t1/2 = 1360(70) ms. In addition, the α-decay energy and half-life of 166Os were measured and found to agree with the adopted values. peerReviewed

The α -decay branch of the πh 11 / 2 isomer in 164 Ir has been identified using the GREAT spectrometer. The 164 Ir nuclei were produced using the 92 Mo( 78 Kr ,p 5 n ) 164 Ir reaction and separated in flight using the recoil ion transport unit (RITU) gas-filled separator. The measured α -decay energy of 6880 ± 10 keV allowed the excitation of the πh 11 / 2 state in 160 Re to be deduced as 166 ± 14 keV. The half-life of 164 Ir was measured with improved precision to be 70 ± 10 μ sandan α -decay branching ratio of 4 ± 2% was determined. Improved half-life and branching ratio measurements were also obtained for 165 Ir, but no evidence was found for the ground-state decays of either 164 Ir or 165 Ir. peerReviewed

Excited states and decay properties of 175Pt have been investigated using the 92Mo(86Sr,2pn) fusion-evaporation reaction. The JUROGAM I γ -ray spectrometer and the GREAT spectrometer were used in conjunction with the gas-filled recoil separator RITU for the measurement of the radiation at the target and focal plane positions, respectively. Two new band structures, assigned to be based on the I π = (7/2 −) ground state in 175Pt, have been established and the known yrast band has been extended up to I π = (49/2 +). Rotational properties of the excited states in 175Pt have been investigated within the cranked shell-model formalism. The low-frequency changes in the alignments of the positive- and negative-parity bands are interpreted as a sign of proton-pair excitations in the rotating core. Furthermore, the α-decay measurements reveal a candidate for a fourth α-decay branch in 175Pt, feeding a non-yrast state in 171Os. peerReviewed

A detailed nuclear-decay spectroscopy study of the neutron-deficient isotope 178Tl has been performed using the highly selective Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source and ISOLDE mass separator (CERN), which allowed a unique isobarically pure beam of 178Tl to be produced. The first identification of the β-delayed fission of this isotope was made and its probability PβDF(178Tl) = 0.15(6)% was determined. An asymmetric fission fragment mass distribution of the daughter isotope 178Hg (populated by the β decay of 178Tl) was deduced based on the measured fission fragment energies. The fine-structure α-decay pattern of 178Tl allowed the low-energy states in the daughter nucleus 174 Au to be studied. ispartof: Physical Review C, Nuclear Physics vol:88 issue:4 pages:1-10 status: published

The α decay of 188,192Po has been reexamined in order to probe the 0+ states in the daughter nuclei 184,188Pb that can be associated with coexisting spherical, oblate, and∕or prolate configurations. Improved values were measured for the excitation energy and the feeding α-decay intensity of the 0+2state in 184,188Pb and conflicting results on the 0+3 state in 188Pb were clarified. All known cases of fine structure in the α decay of the even-even Po nuclei are reviewed. The reduced α-decay width systematics combined with potential-energy-surface calculations confirm the onset of deformation in the ground state of the polonium nuclei around the neutron midshell. An isomeric state with a half-life of 580(100)ns has been identified in 192Po. peerReviewed

The α decay of 183Pb has been studied in detail at the focal plane of the RITU gas-filled separator. The four previously known α decay branches have been ordered into the decay of two isomers in 183Pb. The deduced decay scheme and the interpretation of the inferred α decay hindrance factors and γ rays observed at the focal plane are strongly in favor of the recent suggestion of triple shape coexistence-oblate, prolate, and near-spherical in the daughter nucleus 179Hg.

An in-beam study of excited states in the transfermium nucleus 252 No has been performed using the recoil separator RITU together with the JUROSPHERE II array at the University of Jyväskylä. This is the second transfermium nucleus studied in an in-beam experiment. Levels up to spin 20 were populated and compared to levels in 254 No . An upbend is seen at a frequency of 200 keV/ħ corresponding to spin 16. We also use an improved systematics to connect the energy of the lowest 2 + state with its half-life and find that the deformation of both 2 5 2 , 2 5 4 No is slightly larger than previously assumed. peerReviewed

The γ decays of excited states in the neutron deficient nuclei 159 Ta and 160 W have been identified for the first time. The nuclei of interest were produced in reactions induced by beams of 58 Ni ions at energies of 286 MeV, 291 MeV, and 298 MeV bombarding a 106 Cd target. Prompt γ rays were recorded using the JUROSPHERE spectrometer and were tagged through the subsequent α decays of associated recoil ions measured in a position-sensitive silicon strip detector at the focal plane of the gas-filled separator RITU. Level schemes have been deduced and compared with similar structures observed in neighboring nuclei. peerReviewed